A first-of-its kind study conducted in Canada’s two largest cities by McGill-led researchers has linked about 1,100 premature deaths per year to an unregulated air pollutant.
Ultrafine particles (UFPs) primarily come from vehicle emissions and industrial activities. Canada’s federal and provincial governments have not set concentration limits for UFPs, as they have for larger fine particles known as PM2.5.
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east. Wildfire-related haze could also move east into Ontario and Quebec, affecting areas from Georgian Bay to Quebec City (CTV News)
While officials have repeatedly sought to assure residents that the water and air in East Palestine, Ohio, are safe after the derailment of a train carrying hazardous materials earlier this month, anxiety has permeated the community amid reports of rashes, nausea and headaches. While it was deemed safe for evacuated residents to return home on February 8, community members have questioned how safe their village is and the validity of the air and water tests. (CNN)
The World Health Organization’s most recent estimates (2016) are that over 4.2 million people die prematurely each year due to long-term exposure to fine particulate outdoor air pollution (often referred to as PM2.5,). A recent study involving McGill researchers now suggests that the annual global death toll from outdoor PM2.5 may be significantly higher than previously thought.
Scott Weichenthal, Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, is among the experts quoted by the Montreal Gazette.
"…Dr. Scott Weichenthal, an associate professor in the department of epidemiology, biostatistics and occupational health at McGill University, said that while he understands the difficult task of balancing public health with other factors, he thinks more could have been done to address the airborne transmission of COVID-19 over the course of the pandemic."
Dr. Scott Weichenthal, Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, is among the experts quoted by Scientific American.
"Despite the devices’ novelty, the question of whether they will actually benefit environmental monitoring campaigns is still up in the air, says Scott Weichenthal, an environmental epidemiologist at McGill University, who was not involved in the study. “Do they measure reliably?” he asks. “Are they any better than what we can do now in terms of monitoring? That is unclear.”
Dr. Scott Weichenthal, Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, is among the experts quoted by CBC.
"…Scott Weichenthal, a professor at McGill University's department of epidemiology, biostatistics, and occupational health who studies air quality, said the novel coronavirus is known to be airborne. "If you get a whole large number of people in an arena, indoors, yelling in close proximity to each other, the chances of having transmission is obviously elevated,'' he said."
Drs. Jill Baumgartner and Scott Weichenthal, respectively Associate and Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, authored an op-ed in the Montreal Gazette.
"Most classrooms have ventilation rates much lower than those required to reduce infectious disease transmission, even with open windows."
New research from McGill University links air pollution nanoparticles to brain cancer.
“Officials in the city of Montreal have issued the latest of several smog alerts today and they hope to improve air quality by restricting the use of wood-burning appliances made popular after the devastating ice storm of 1998.” (RCI Net)
The risk of acute myocardial infarction for the elderly living in and around small cities is increased by air pollution caused by biomass burning from woodstoves.
It is well documented that air pollution in big cities causes heart and lung problems. But what are its consequences on people in smaller urban centres?
